Heat aid fund takes big hit

Decatur Daily Democrat:

A large reduction in state funds for the Energy Assistance Program that's operated by Community and Family Services (CFS) has occurred and that loss will affect how much CFS will be able to assist people in need during the upcoming winter.

Millie Deaton, who heads the Adams County CFS office, said the agency received $4 million from Indiana for the winter of 2010-11, but was cut to $500,000 for the coming winter.

As a result, "mass days," when CFS personnel talk with older people and the disabled about the program, have been cancelled, as were appointments in the local CFS office.